Inflatable flotation device



May 19, 1936.

D. MAPES INFLATABLE FLOTATION DEVICE Original Filed April 8, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.2

INVENTOR DAN/EL -MAPE5 'BY ATTORNEY May l9, 1936.

D. MAPES I ,041,662

"INFLATABLE FLOTATION DEVICE Original Filed April 8, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i I I 4 8 Fig. 3 I

INVENTOR DAN/EL MAP-E6 ATTORNEY ENFLA LABTJE FLU'LIATHUN DEVICE llllanicll Maples, lll'pper Mcntciair, N. .31, assignor to Walter Kidde 8; Sompany, Erie, Bloomfield, N. 31, a corporation of New Yorls 2 Claims.

The present invention is a division of applicants copending application Serial No. 665,090, filed April 8, 1933, for Inflatable flotation devices, and embodies that portion of said application which relates to inflatable flotation devices, such as life-vests or belts, for individual use.

More specifically the invention relates to inflatable flotation devicm of ,the type comprising a plurality of individual compartments inflated by air or other gas, for example, carbon dioxide stored under pressure.

Inflatable flotation devices of the type in use prior to the present invention and of the construction embodying a plurality of inflatable compartments, have either been provided with individual compartments supplied by separate sources of inflating medium or have been provided with intercommunicating compartments supplied from a single source of inflating medium. 7

The disadvantages of the first type of construction are at once apparent since the compartments, being individually inflatable, can not be arranged for simultaneous release of the separate sources of inflating medium without more or less complicated control apparatus; and since the duplication of the sources of inflating medium is both cumbersome and uneconomical.

With reference to the second type of construction having intercommunicating compartments supplied from a single source of inflating medimn, wherein the admission of inflating medium to one compartment will cause the medium to flow to all the compartments, the undesirable feature is that, in the event of an accident causing puncturing and. deflation of one compartment, the remain-- ing compartments will be immediately deflated, thus rendering the flotation device useless.

it is accordingly an object of this invention to provide an inflatable flotation device, such as a lifewest or belt, or the like. having a plurality of inflatable compartments which are not in intercommunication but which are nevertheless,

adapted for simultaneous inflation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a-flotation device of the type mentioned-in which each of the separate compartments may be simultaneously inflated by pressure medium from a single pressure medium storage container.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a pressure medium distributing manifold arranged to receive pressure medium from a source thereof and distribute it to a plu rality of compartments and also arranged to ((Cl. earrap prevent both reverse flow of the pressure medium from the compartment to the manifold and flow between the compartments.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a structural embodiment thereof which is particularly adapted for use with life-vests or lifebelts.

These and other objects of the invention not specifically enumerated above will be apparent as the invention is described in greater detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a life-vest embodying the present invention, and showing the manner of assembly of the pressure medium container and the distributing manifold.

Figure 2 is a somewhat enlarged view, partially in section, showing the pressure medium container and certain features of construction of a distributing manifold in accordance with the invention.

Figure 3 is a still further enlarged cross-sectional view taken at right angles to Figure 2, and showing the pressure medium container and other features of construction of the distributing manifold of Figure 2.

Referring first to Figure l, the reference ninmeral i represents a complete inflatable life-vest ready for use. Of course, the invention may be adapted to any form of life-preserver, but the description here is concerned with the construe" tion in the form of a life-vest. Still referring to Figure 1, the vest is constructed with two or more individually but simultaneously inflatable compartments 2, 3, the compartments being preferably symmetrically arranged toencircle the wear ers neck, so that there will always be an equal buoyant effect on either side of the wearer re= gardless of the number of compartments in flated or the degree of inflation.

At t is shown a pressure medium storage container suitably secured to the vest structure and connected by means of a coupling member 5 to a distributing manifold t which in turn is connected by fittings i and t and branch connections 9 and it with the inflatable compartments 2 and 3, respectively.

in Figure 3, the pressure medium release means is shown comprising the coupling member 5, which is secured within the mouth of the container 5, the coupling member being provided with a pas sage it communicating at one end with the in terior of the container and normally closed at the other end by afrangible disc l2 and sealing gasket l3 carried by a thimble l 4 and held against a seat at the end of the passage i I through the medium of a screw-threaded engagement of the thimble l4 with the coupling member 5. For the purpose of releasing the pressure medium from the container, disc rupturing means is provided in the form of a cutter I5 provided with a bore l6 extending entirely therethrough. The cutter i5 is normally maintained out of contact with the frangible disc l2 by means of a coil spring ll bearing at one end in a recess iii in the thimble i4 and at the other end on a head iii of the cutter I5, outward movement of the cutter being limited by a washer 20 secured against an internal shoulder of the coupling l5 by means of a ring-shaped member 2| having a screw-threaded engagement with the coupling member 5. A thin disc 22 of some easily fracturable material, such as bakelite, is secured between the washer 20 and the ringshaped member 2!, the purpose of the disc 22 being to protect the cutter l5 against the corrosive effect of egrternal media and against the intrusion of foreign matter which might tend to clog the passage l6. In order to control the flow of the pressure medium from the container 4, passage IS in the cutter is made of a predetermined size, and the cutter I5 itself is arranged for a closeworking flt on its external surface with the bore 23 in the thimble [4. The means for actuating the cutter i5 to cause it to rupture the frangible disc and to permit the escape of the pressure medium will be described in connection with the assembly of the distributing manifold 6, in which this means is mounted.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the distributing manifold 6 comprises both means for distributing the pressure medium to the inflatable compartments of the vest and means for actuating the pressure medium release means. The latter means comprises a pointed striking pin 24 guided within a bore 25 of a member 26, which is threaded within the end of the manifold which is secured to the coupling member 5 by the interengaging screw threads. The striking pin 24 is provided with a head 21 adapted to be engaged by a cam member 28 secured on one end of a shaft 29 which is journaled within cooperating bushings 30 and 3|, of which the bushing 30 passes through a wall of the distributing manifold 6. Packing 32 held between the bushings 30 and 3i prevents leakage of the pressure medium past the shaft 29. Secured to .the outer end of the shaft 29 is a lever 33 provided with an operating pull 34. The cam member 28 is normally maintained in its non-operated position by engagement with a groove 35 of the can member of a catch button 36 guided within a recessed extension 31 of the manifold and maintained in contact with the cam member by means of a coil spring 38. With the construction as thus described, when the pull handle 34 is operated, the cam member 28 rotates against the yielding engagement of the catch button 36 and engages the head- 21 of the striking pin 24, thus driving the striking pin'through the fracturable disc 22 into engagement with the head IQ of the cutter l5, whereby the cutter is driven through the frangible disc l2, opening a passage for the pressure medium from-the container 4 through the passages H, 23 and i6, through openings 39 in the member 26 to the receiving chamber 40 of the distributing manifold, whence the medium discharges into the inflatable compartments 2 and 3 of the Vest through the'branch connections 9 and i0 and the fittings I and 8, the flow of the pressure medium continuing until the pressure throughout the system has been equalized, at which time the compartments 2 and 3 are isolated from the receiving chamber 40 by the closing of the check valves 4|, located in the branch connections 9 and Ill. The construction of the check valves 4| is not shown in detail, as, in the present instance, they are ordinary commercial pneumatic tire air valves; and it is sumcient to know that the check valves permit flow of the pressure medium to the inflatable compartments, but prevent a. reverse flow of the pressure medium from the inflatable compartments to the receiving chamber, at the same time preventing intercommunication of the inflatable compartments, which, in the event of the puncturing and deflation of one of the compartments, would cause deflation of the remaining compartment.

Referring again to Figure l, the reference numerals 42 and 43 represent tubes connected to the inflatable compartments 2 and 3 through connections 44 and 45, through which tubes the inflation of the compartments of the vest may be maintained despite leakage of the inflating medium from the compartments. For this purpose the ends of the tubes 43 and 44 are arranged near the neck-piece of the vest, so that they may easily be inserted in the mouth of a wearer for inflation by air from the wearer's lungs. Of course, if there is suflicient time to inflate the vest before the wearer must take to the water, the vest compartments may be completely inflated through these tubes without operating the pressure medium container, so that'the pressure medium may be reserved for a future more serious emergency, such as when the wearer is thrown into the water without having time to inflate the vest, in which case a pull on the operating pull will effect rapid inflation of the vest.

The tubes 42 and 43 also serve to deflate the vest when it hasserved its purpose, the deflation being effected by loosening the stoppers at the ends of the tubes.

At the time when the vest is deflated it is well toreplace the empty pressure medium container 4 with a fully charged container. In order to accomplish this, all that is necessary is to unscrew the empty container from the coupling 5 and replace it by a charged container, as the container and its release means comprise a replaceable unit. Care should be taken, however, that the cam 28 has been returned to its normal position of engagement by the spring pressed catch button 36, so that it will not cause release of the pressure medium during the replacement process.

In completion of the description of the lifevest, it should be noted that the leak-proof flttings I and 8 each comprise a flanged thimble 4B threaded internally and externally, the' threaded portion being passed through an opening in one of the fabric walls of the life-vest. A soft rubber gasket 41, interposed between the flange of, the thimble 46 and the fabric wall, is compressed into gas-tight relation with the flange and wall by means of a threaded ring 43 engaging the external threads of the thimble and bearing on a washer 49 which serves as a bearing plate for the threaded ring 48 permitting the latter to turn in a manner which would be impossible if the ring were in direct contact with the fabric wall of the vest. The assembly of the fitting also includes a sealing gasket 50 for insuring a gas-tight joint between the thimble 46 and the end-piece ii of the branch connection II (or 3). which end-piece engages the internal threads of the thimble it.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided inflatable flotation devices which incorporate the objects set out at thebeginning and which will be recognized to constitute a decided improvement over the prior devices of this character. It will also be seen that the principles of construction of the present'invention are broadly applicable to various types of inflatable flotation devices; so that, while the invention has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, I do not wish it' to be limited save as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A fluid distributing system for distributing a fluid medium under pressure to a plurality of compartments comprising a body member provided with a chamber, a fluid inlet passage for said chamber, a plurality of fluid outlet passages for said chamber; a container of fluid medium arranged axially within said inlet passage in such a position that it may be forced into operative engagement with said disc rupturing means; means for guiding said striking pin mounted within said inlet passage, said last named means being provided with an opening for permitting the passage of the fluid medium therethrough,

a spindle journalled in a wall of the chambered body member at right angles to the axis of said striking pin and extending exteriorly and interiorly of said wall, packing means encompassing said spindle for preventing leakage of the fluid medium past the spindle, a cam mounted on said spindle within said chamber in a position to forcibly engage the striking pin when the spindle is rotated, said cam being formed with a depression on the periphery thereof adapted to be yieldingly engaged by locking means to normally maintain the cam out of forcible engagement with the striking pin, a spring pressed detent mounted within a wall of the chambered body member and adapted to yieldingly engage the depression in the cam to lock the -same as aforesaid, means external to the chambered body member to eifect rotation of the spindle to actuate the cam to engage the striking pin to eflect release of the fluid medium from the container, and a check valve in each outlet passage from the chambered body member to prevent flow of the fluid medium from the several compartments back into the chambered body member and to prevent intercommunlcation of the corn lease means of the type operableby forcible engagement therewith of a striking element, the arrangement being such that the fluid release means may be operated by a thrust applied through said inlet passage and so that the contents of the container may be discharged into said chamber, a striking pin arranged axially within said inlet passage in such a position that it may be forced into operative engagement with. the fluid release means of the container, means for guiding said striking pin mounted within said inlet passage, said last named means being provided with an opening for permitting the passage of the fluid medium therethrough, a spindle journalled in a wall of the chambered body member at right angles to the axis of said striking pin and extending exteriorly and interiorly of said wall, packing means encompassing said spindle for preventing leakage of the fluid medium past the spindle, a cam mounted on'said spindle within said chamber in a position to forcibly engage the striking pin when the spindle is rotated, said cam being formed with a depression on the periphery thereof adapted to be yieldingly engaged by locking means to normally maintain the cam out of forcible engagement with the striking pin, a

spring pressed detent mounted within a wall of the chambered body member and adapted to yieldingly engage the depression in the cam to lock the same as aforesaid, means external to the chambered body member to effect rotation of the spindle to actuate the cam to engage the striking pin to effect release of the fluid medium from the container, and a check valve in each outlet passage from the chambered body member to prevent flow of the fluid medium from the several compartments back into the chambered body member and to prevent inter-communication of the compartments.

- DANIEL MAPES. 

